Court asks Himachal to clarify liquor vend policy

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has asked the state government to clarify its policy on opening liquor shops near educational institutes and religious places.

A division bench of Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rajiv Sharma Wednesday observed the liquor vending policy followed in the state in regard to distance from educational institutions, places of worship and bus stands “appears to be lacking in clarity”. The order was made available Thursday.

“It is provided that there shall be no such liquor vend within the distance of 60 metres from the recognised educational institutions, places of worship and inter-district bus stands,” the bench said.

The court observed that how to measure the distance is not clear in the policy and listed the matter for next hearing Nov 19.

The court’s observations came on a letter written by Ashok Kumar to the chief justice seeking directions to authorities concerned to shift a liquor vend situated near a girls’ senior secondary school in Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district.